Three previously missing crew members aboard oil tanker ‘Pratibha Cauvery,’ pictured, were declared dead on Friday. One crew member had drowned near Chennai late Wednesday.

Cyclone Nilam, which hit India’s southeastern coast late Wednesday, has significantly weakened, but heavy rainfall and strong winds have left a trail of destruction along the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh states.

Here’s a detailed overview:

Total Death Toll: At least 20

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[Note: These figures account for deaths recorded by state officials as of Friday, 4.30 PM IST.]

Tamil Nadu: Heavy rainfall from Cyclone Nilam, which made landfall near the Tamilian city of Mahabalipuram, claimed eight more lives in the state, raising the death toll to at least 16 on Friday, said M. Jayaraman, a senior disaster management official.

So far, the state has recorded six fatalities in the district of Vellore, four in the capital city of Chennai, including three previously missing crew members aboard oil tanker “Pratibha Cauvery,” two in Villupuram district,and one each in the districts of Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri and Thanjavur.

Andhra Pradesh: Officials in the southern state confirmed four fatalities, one each in the districts of Nellore, East Godavari, Prakasam and Anantapur.

Evacuees: More than 13,000

Tamil Nadu: Over the last two days, state officials evacuated a total of 9,019 coastal inhabitants, and subsequently stationed them in relief camps across seven districts, says Mr. Jayaraman.

The highest number of evacuees, he notes, were in Mahabalipuram, where Cyclone Nilam made landfall late Wednesday. Most evacuees, including 3,888 temporarily displaced from Mahabalipuram, have returned home.

Andhra Pradesh: While there were no evacuations in the state on Wednesday, 4,824 coastal dwellers were evacuated in the district of Prakasham and brought to higher grounds late Thursday, according to Vinod Kumar Ekbote, a state disaster management official.

Heavy rains flooded their homes, most of which are built using thatch, clay or poor-quality concrete. The coastal inhabitants, currently stationed in 13 relief camps in the district, are expected to return home on Friday.

Late Thursday, a news agency created panic when it claimed local authorities evacuated over 150,000 coastal residents in the neighboring district of Nellore. The top local bureaucrat, District Magistrate B. Sreedhar, denied these claims. “No such activity was conducted, or ordered, over the last three days,” he told India Real Time on Friday.

Damage Sustained

Tamil Nadu: Damage from the storm is currently being assessed, says Mr. Jayaraman. While the state has not filed an official report, Mr. Jayaraman estimates “significant damage” to rural homes, infrastructure, plantations and livestock along Tamil Nadu’s eastern coast.

Andhra Pradesh: According to a preliminary investigation report, about 30 coastal homes have reported damage, while paddy and cotton fields on the east coast have been adversely impacted by heavy rainfall.

Some 270 and 20 electricity polls fell in the districts of Nellore and Chittoor, respectively, disrupting power supply. Local authorities are currently engaged in repair and restoration activities.

Rescue Forces

Tamil Nadu: Rescue teams, says Mr. Jayaraman, are “constantly monitoring” coastal areas and are prepared to offer further aid and assistance as necessary.

Andhra Pradesh: Authorities believe further damage is unlikely, but 47 officials from the National Disaster Response Force have been stationed in Nellore “as a precautionary measure,” Mr. Ekbote says. The officials will remain in the district until rainfall subsides, he adds.

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